So lovely to hear a bit more about you, It must be wonderful to advocate for individuals with mental disorders, that is one thing I wish to do when I graduate. You seem to have a strong sense of self and purpose and that inspires me. I am so glad you are on this forum with us. Hope to chat more in the future. x

Hi Leah, I'm so glad you shared with us. Quite a few members have a couple of dx and it's nice to see you with such a strong attitude towards recovery.

I try not to worry about my med intake, I take xanax 1mg as needed..and when it's need I take it!!!! I've been on almost every anti-dep and anti-anxiety med known to man and even a few anti-psychotics (no clue what that reasoning was) and very few worked. I believe we have to tweak the dose and have loooong talks with our doc's to find the right med for us. I hope you find some peace, and a med with low side effects (I find they go away after three weeks - but that's just me). I am sure you are a great mum..you are not alone in these fears..stay with us now okay.

I get the urge to call you the Dancing Queen............I have seen Mama Mia once to often.............lol

It is so nice to have you here with us and your dx is the same as mine but I have been managed on meds and therapy. Thank you so much for sharing with us and know you are a part of the HW family so you may come and post here anytime you want to.

Hi I'm Lynn,I'm 33 years old and live on Vancouver Island. I have been married almost 11 years. I have suffered with depression since I was 15years old. I was diagnoised with General Anxiety Disorder a few years ago. There is a history of anxiety in my family and alcholoism. I'm taking one day at a time although sometimes I get frustrated as I do not want to be on medication. I'm taking Paxil and clonazepam. Slowy tapering off clonazepam. I don't know what else to say. :)

Hello! I found this site by accident today. My name is Kris. I'm 31 years old, and I live in Oklahoma with my three children (11, 9, and 8). I've had anxiety, hypomania, and depression. My doctor diagnosed me as Bipolar 2. I'm not 100% convinced that I am, and I hate labels.

I am on Wellbutrin and Seroquel. I also take Ativan or Tranzene as needed. I haven't had a full blown panic attack in some time.

Hello everyone, my name is Megan and I'm 25 years old. I was dx with GAD about 4 years ago, so I'm still trying to adjust to this disorder, but I think I'm coming along well.

I currently live in Alabama with my boyfriend, and I'm a senior finishing up my B.S. with a double major in Psychology/Criminal Justice.

I am hoping to use this forum as a support system for myself and an informal tool in helping to understand a little more about anxiety and panic. I have been taking Paxil CR 12.5mg for the past 2 years, and though I've heard many horror stories, it has really helped reduce the number of panic attacks that I experience. Before Paxil, I was experiencing a panic attack almost monthly, now I am happy to say that I have less than a handful per year.

I also take alprazolam 0.5mg PRN. This has been a tremendous help with my anxiety, but I don't use it often, as I am well aware of the addictive aspects of benzos. Only when I absolutely need it!

Thank you for the introduction and I understand your dislike of labels. I am so glad you found us as we love new members. We are here to support you and I know you will be bringing information to us as you already have about the Wellbutrin.

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P forum. I am so glad you have joined us.........wow a double major..........Criminal Justice really peaks my interest but I am a RN so I have a great love for patient care and ER was my home for 26 years as a bedside nurse then department manager.

I am sure we will learn alot from each other and the members of A & P.

hello all, im not necessarliy a newbie, but i feel like it as i have been without internet for a loooong time. i used to be a moderator and loved it, and hope i did make some feel a lil better. I hope to be able to make another comeback. the past few years have been so wierd with some of the best times and the scariest, i have been lucky enough to meet a wonderful man that tries to hard to make me feel good and keep me from panicking, it just hasn't been easy. We moved to another state, trying to start anew... which made me panic even moreso, i just tried to ignore it, HA, we all know that doesnt work vewy well. I am back where i belong now, running away just does not help things, as much as i wanted it to all i did was seclude myself in a small apartment and cry. Being loved doesnt make things go away as i had hoped. I wish you all the best and hope that this wonderful site continues to help so many. I do hope that i can stay online now, and able to come here and feel better....everyone here is always so helpful and that is something that just cannot be replaced. I wish the best to all and hope that I can be of some help as i get stronger yet again....shell" Dwell not on the past. Use it to illustrate a point, then leave it behind. Nothing really matters except what you do now, in this instant of time. From this moment onward you can be an entirely different person, filled with love and understanding, ready with an outstretched hand, uplifted and positive in every thought and deed."Eileen Caddy

Hello, I am Kitt and IMHO anyone that volunteers to moderate a forum and gives freely of their own time is a very special person so I am sure you helped many. Please believe in the good you have done.

Your right running away and falling in love are not necessarily a cure for anxiety. We are very happy to see you back here with us as it is a wonderful family and you will find many kind and caring members to support and care for you.

I hope you become a regular and that you know we are here for you as we are for all the members.

It started about a year ago while planning my wedding and has slowly spun out of control. It started with chest pains, racing heart that sent me to the doctor. She did the usual tests and said everything was fine but here is some xanax to help you get through the rest of your wedding. Well, I don't remember my wedding but I do remember the most miserable honeymoon a person can have. I was terrified the whole time I was going to be sick in front of people. After the stress of the wedding went away, my panic attacks lessons to the point I almost forgot how bad they were.

Well, in October I was told I have to have major surgery and that started the ball rolling again. I managed without using many pills but still had a rough time. 3 months after surgery I was put on Topamax for nerve pain and after about a week my heart went crazy. I was having horrible heart attack like symptoms so when I finally called my doc she sent me to the ER for testing and it may or may not have been a heart attack because my enzymes were right on the borderline.

After this I have had a PET stress test, an ECG and a tilt table test and all came back with healthy heart results. I have been fighting the panic attacks since then but unfortunalty I had to have ANOTHER surgery about two weeks ago and when I came out of happy land I could not breath. As in, swore I was gonna die and was hoping my family knew I loved them. Siince then I have had horrible panic attacks just about everyday. I have been taking my xanax, not much maybe .5 mlg a day, maybe .75 if it is a rough day. My poor husband has been doing his best to keep my from losing my mind and I have seen my counselor and talking helped but then something happens and it all comes rushing back in wave after terrifying wave.

I have gone from carefree to terrified something bad is happening. If my leg hurts it is a DVT. If my head hurts it is a stroke and the chest pains are unreal. This attacks can last for hours and sometimes I am not aware enough to realize it is an attack so I just suffer through it without taking anything or trying to "end" it. I tried to go see a psychiatrist but the office screwed up royally and booked with with a normal MD so who knows when I will get in to see someone.

Well, it is nice to meet everyone even though I wish they were on better circumstances.

Welcome to our forum, the A & P forum of HealingWell...............I am so glad you found us. We have lots of members that live the same life you do with their anxiety and panic which is often caused from physical illnesses.

Please do start a thread about your attacts and give it a clever name. I know you will receive lots of caring and support. We know what your going through and where your coming from.

Tell us more about the anxiety and panic. What makes it beter............your therapy? Also please know you are safe here, we do not judge and we care about how you are doing.

Hi everyone!
I am a newbie to this board. I usually post to the Crohn's disease board. I have had issues with anxiety for many years. I was doing pretty well but it seems to have come back. 2007 was a rough year for me so that may be the cause. (Mom had Cancer, Diagnosed with Crohn's, Dad dies in Oct 2007)
I saw a new Dr last night and he added a new medicine. I will take it tonight for the first time (Clonazepam). He told me that it works very well but the anxiety in me makes me weary...
I figured I should stop in here and introduce myself because I have been reading and lurking for a day or so.
My info:
32 years old, Married for 11 years, 2 boys (8 and 10 years old)
I work in Human Resources, I love to sew (I make lots of tote bags and pot holders, curtains etc)
I also love to garden when it is warm here. I live about 45-50 miles from Chicago, IL
I think sewing is my therapy, it really makes me feel good to make something....
Karen
...
Karen (Karendee)
Diagnosed w/ Crohn’s Disease March 2007 Started Humira June 2008 (have been on other cd meds)
Diagnosed w/ Fibromyalgia May 2007 also on Soma
Diagnosed w/ General Anxiety Disorder in 2005- Effexor and now new med Clonazepam starting 7/18/08

Thanks Kitt, you are the best!!!
Sewing is not that hard, I could teach you to make a pot holder or something
Karen
...
Karen (Karendee)
Diagnosed w/ Crohn’s Disease March 2007 Started Humira June 2008 (have been on other cd meds)
Diagnosed w/ Fibromyalgia May 2007 also on Soma
Diagnosed w/ General Anxiety Disorder in 2005- Effexor and now new med Clonazepam starting 7/18/08

Hi my name is Robin I'm a single mom of 2 wonderful children my daughter is 6 and my son is 2. I had my first full blown panic attack after my daughter was born. I had to have an emergency C-Section with her I was induced and in labor for 4 days they gave me an epidural and my blood pressure dropped dramatically I had to be put on oxygen when they finally decided to take her they gave me an antibiotic which I had swelling of the throat and tongue, after the surgery I wouldn't clot so I was in ICU til I finally clotted. about a week later I was home by myself with my daughter and I thought I was dying my heart was racing, I was dizzy, my arms were numb. All I kept thinking what if I pass out who is going to take care of my daughter thinking that made my symptoms worse. I called the NP at my GYN office she talk me through and thats' when a name was given for what was happening. During my pregnacy I also became allergic to seafood so alot of my panic attacks are based on if I'm going to have an allergic reaction to something. My son was born with a scheduled C-Section which was perfect but he was sick since day one. I finally got a DX of Ulcerative Colitis. Any test or med he takes I have a panic attack because he's following in my footsteps with allergies. I learned over the years to talk myself down when I'm having an attack. I try to take my vitamins and eat healthy and excercise. Some days are really bad especially if I'm home with the kids by myself. Sometimes it's so bad I won't eat at peoples houses unless I see how they prepared the food and what they put in it. I don't eat out for the fear of cross contamination of seafood. I feel so stupid sometimes it controls my life and I've lost out on time with my friends. I don't pursue realationships for this reason cause I'm afraid they won't understand. I got a referral to an allergist so I can really see how bad my allergy is but now I have to get up enough nerve to make the appt and go. My MD has asked me if I want to be on anti axienty's I don't think she understands also that me taking meds are another fear so me taking them will not help me but probably kill

me I'd go insane. Funny thing I work with mentally disabled adults in a group home and they are on these meds and go through attacks I can help them through them but fro me forget it.